Life is Grand, Baby!: Notes on Performing
Language: English
Published by Concord Books, 2021
- Softcover
- Used
Seller: World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.World of Books (was SecondSale)
AbeBooks seller since December 20, 2007
Condition: Used - Very good
£ 2.70
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Life is Grand, Baby (Notes on Performing) by Paul Toshner.Memoirs and insights on the intimate performance of song from a real-life Piano Man. Paul is an all-round entertainer: speaker, piano looper, and singer. He took classical voice lessons for three years with Lidea De Rosa and piano with Jim McDowall in Glasgow. The rest he picked up on the road to where we are now. Paul has honed his Life Is Grand, Baby show, book and album after developing a repertoire in various London West End hotel residencies; four hours a night, four nights a week, for three years. As well as stints in European ski season hotel piano bars, and East coast USA concerts. I really did write it for myself, I can say that with total honesty. For the first time I'm sharing secrets I've built up over the years as a concert act, a lounge act, piano-bar act, a shopping-center act, a restaurant act. Added to these are some more personal m moire-like moments and lessons learned. I have been inspired by the American way of doing things. One such attitude is to pay it forward. I hope my book brings a deep and practical understanding and improves the lives of those who listen to you, and that you go places and enrich people who might be melancholy with a word, or a song, and a smile. I address the need to be concerned with the way something is delivered, as much as what and where it's being delivered.This book is for the front man, or the soloist. Someone who takes responsibility for the flow, pace, structure, material selection, engagement and many dynamics relating to audience relationship. It would never have existed had I not lost so many bookings because of Covid-19, or without the support of my wife Tamar.I started off life as a musician playing piano in Princess Square, a classy Glasgow shopping center. I moved on to local hotel lobbies (The Grosvenor and the Albany). But it all started when I got to cover for a job in Denmark for a friend who played in The Baby Grand called Danny Thompson. He couldn't do the gig and offered it to me. There I met another piano player and he introduced me to his agent. It went from there to piano bars in Denmark, ski resorts in Klosters and St. Moritz Switzerland.Life is Grand, Baby A book, a show and an album that reflects finding joy in the midst of sorrow.I hopefully deliver an uplifting exposition on the brighter and darker sides of life (while how to see the positives).Set on a backdrop of material mostly by Billy Joel and my originals (which sometimes go down best of all), plus songs by: Danny Kaye, Bob Dylan, Pavarotti, The Beatles, James Taylor, Coldplay, Garth Brooks, Elvis, Opera with original lyric adaptations, plus an inspirational story or idea from my book Life is Grand, Baby when I also usually give away a signed copy. An invaluable tool for anyone and everyone in the entertainment industry. You will gain insight and inspiration from this important work. -Yechiel Spero. Author. He sports a white fedora, speaks in a distinctive Scottish accent. With a friendly, bubbly personality that lights up the room.-Baltimore Jewish Times. An instruction manual about how to do a good performance, it speaks to me. Very well written thoughtful stuff, fascinating. -Avraham Rosenblum, The Diaspora Yeshiva band. I wish I'd have met Paul Toshner 30 years ago, he has taught me many things about the world. about work, gals, money, investment, how to deal with people under any circumstance, fairness, kindness, hard work, consistency, the value of perseverance, the importance and the guts to destroy your own work, if necessary, in order to start up again from zero, just to upgrade that 'little' notch, the absolute always essential tool of not taking things too seriously, specially, and more particularly oneself -Mesoud Benasuly. Guitarist N.Y.…
Seller Inventory # 00091512676
- Title
- Life is Grand, Baby!: Notes on Performing
- Author
- Paul Toshner
- Publisher
- Concord Books
- Publication year
- 2021
- Condition
- Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 1736634569
- ISBN 13
- 9781736634561
“Paul Toshner is a pianist who mastered his instrument and performance with great skill, and with what seems like endless creativity. I recommend reading his book whether if you are a musician or not! Paul’s book "Life is grand baby" is not only a great practical guide for performers, but it holistically covers many aspects of performance and life altogether. It teaches you how to set up your gear, but also how to handle different situations in life, onstage and off. How to deal with people, how to deal with stress, how to be present – in the moment, how to open yourself to what life has to give, and much more. It could be read as a practical guide for performance but also as a parable, a guide for dealing with life. It is practical, spiritual, poetic, addresses the human psyche, written with wit and humor, easy to connect to and creative. It is well rounded – it exposes you to little details you wouldn't necessarily think of on your own as a beginning performer!”
Rivka Macales,
composer, pianist and music theory teacher.
"I cant believe the level of artistry you're bringing to the people in these residential homes. I bet they'd never seen anything like it before".
Joe Tepperman
Author, theater writer, speech engineer
This book is for the frontman, bandleader, or soloist. Someone who takes responsibility for the flow, pace, structure, material selection, engagement, and many dynamics relating to audience relationship. It addresses the need to be concerned with the way something is delivered as much as what and where it is being delivered.
Paul shares modes of understanding, both technically and spiritually in his book, along with memoirs and insights on the intimate performance of song from a real-life Piano Man.
Playing a song is like in playing golf or shooting pool, if you take a somewhat “distance attachment” approach, you pot more frequently. All the better when combined with “a dose of judgement”, and is best if you can simultaneously apply “care”.
An artist in the room is responding to, and/or intertwined with, what’s happening with the people in the room, there is an exchange taking place. Don’t be put off because music was highjacked by the DJs, so of course, there is a greater need than ever for live music and musicians. I have seen all ages responding in the most loving ways as to suggest that people crave live music and musicians. The DJ is to the musician, like the photographer to the painter; limited and compromised as an artist.
Being an artist is being true to yourself in your performance, however it suits you at the time. Entertaining is paying attention to people; giving to them, and caring about them.
I hope my range of experience can be useful to ease a path for performers to deliver meaningful material. To help people put their mind to what they really want to do. To marry the logistical side of performance with the art. If you want to exercise any authority, then natural talent only gets you so far; it doesn’t take you all the way. You also won’t get all things right all in one gig, but enclosed are helpful ideas to review from time to time.
#babytosh #singersongwriter #piano #pianist #entertainer #sinatra #TheBeatles #BobDylan #BillyJoel #originals #paultoshner
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
World of Books (was SecondSale)
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